Dispensing package



June 17, 1947. w, J, WELLS DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed l1m. 28, 1945 INVENTOR WML/11M j #Vf/ 1.5

improved arrangement Patented June-17, 1947l i 2,422,605 DISPENSING PACKAGE William John poration otDelaware lWe Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to F. N. Burt Company,

Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a cor- Application December 28, 1943, Serial No. 515,953 (Cl. 229-7) Y Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carl tons or receptacles for the packaging of articles for use and sale, and more particularly to an of the carton structure for dispensing of such articles.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved carton for articles,.such

as chewing gum, confections, and the like; to provide an improved arrangement for dispensing articles from the carton; to provide a novel discharge outlet for alcarton or box in conjunction with means for manually controlling article movements to the outlet; to provide a novel discharge or dispensing outlet for a package or box in association with a closure means whereby the contents of the package or box are retained safely until ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing carton of' the class mentioned that is capable of manufacture in large quantity production by means of automatic machinery and factory methods thus lowering production costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved article dispensing carton of the class mentioned that can be manufactured under factory methods entirely from sheet materials such as paper, cardboard, flberboard, plastic materials, andthe like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative butpreferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the'disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplii'led in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a carton or box embodying one form of the present invention, the same being shown with the end and closure iiaps and tabs ready to be folded into closed positions;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially lon line 3-3 of Fig. l, showing the position of articles in the carton;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the front oi' the carton with the cover flap closed;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section'on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 'I is a section substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 5, but showing the carton inverted in dispensing position with its front..wall flexed to hold certain of the articles fromdisplacernent.

Referring to the drawin s, the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown comprises a carton body Ill formed of a blank oi proper shape die stampedfrom suitable material, such as .card board, ber board, any of the well known plastics, or similar sheet material, properly scored or creased and folded into box-shape and retained in assembled position by gluing or adhesively attaching together the overlapping side Yflaps i i and I2. The bottom end of the box l0 is formed by side tabs i3 and i4 as extensions respectively ofthe opposite box sides and which are scored at their bases as indicated at i4 to fold inwardlyA towards each other to intert with the end closing flap l5 and tongue or tuck-in flap I6 thereby providing corner sealing and reinforcement, all of which is usual construction in boxes formed by folding shaped blanks. 'Ihe end flap or wall l5 Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the box with the cover ap open and the article discharge passageway opened ready to permit the articles to dicharge therethrough;

and tuck-in flap I6 may be dened by scores or weakening creases i5 and I6' and the tuck-in iiap may be adhesively attached to the carton back wall in its closed yposition or it may be merely tucked in and held frictionally as shown in Fig. 6.

The top or iilling end of the box is likewise arranged to be closed by a pa'r of side tabs il and i8 and an overlying closing ap or wall 20 with its extension tongue or tuck-in flap 2| which is preferably adhesively attached to the carton back wall in its closed position as shown in Fig. 6. Scores or creases 2li' form fold lines for the flaps. An outer locking or dispensing controlling cover 22 is scored or creased along spaced parallel lines 23 so that when folded on these lines, one portion or end flap 22' nt against the end flap or wall 20 as a top reinforcement, while the major portion of the cover 22 lies in its normal closing position shown in Fig. 4 against the front or front wall of the box where it, is held by entering a locking slot or cut 26 extending through and transversely of the box front. To facilitate this interlocking of the dispensing controlling iiap or cover 22 with the slot 26, the free end of the cover 22 is tapered so that the transverse length of the end of the cover 22 is less than the length of the slot 24. Thus, in the closed position shown in Fig. 4, the cover 22 is rmly interlocked -to prevent accidental or improper opening of the top flap 20.

In order that the articles can be removed .from the box in predetermined limited quantities, for example, one at a time as in the illustrative embodiment, an outlet 25 is provided in the front wall of thefbox at a convenient location to be covered by the dispensing controlling nap 22,

of the cover 22 forms a snug which as here shown, is in close proximity t one corner of the box. This corner or space between the side and end walls of the carton thus forms a positioning corner for positioning each article in dispensing position at the dispensing outlet 25. In the illustrative embodiment shown the size of this outlet 25 is such that only one article can pass therethrough at a time, and the configuration thereof conforms generally to the shape and size of the articles to be packed in the box. A closure tab 26 having the contour of the outlet 25 is hinged to the box in position to normally close the outlet 25. As shown, the closure tab 26 is an integral part of the box blank and the hinge is formed by folding on a scored or creased weakened line 21. This closure 26 is conveniently made byforming cuts or slits 26 extending entirely through the front wall of the container, but leaving integral supporting sections or ties 28. These supporting ties may be positioned at one edge or lmore than one edge of the closure 26, three such ties Ibeing lshown positioned at opposite sides thereof. These ties function to support the closure 26 in closed position during packing and shipping and to prevent improper discharge of the articles until the opening 25 is to be used for normally dispensing the articles. When the closure tab 26 is-togbe opened for dispensing purposes,l a relatively slight pressure or pull on the tab 26 adjacent to the ties adjacent to the edge of the closure 26 which is breaks them and allows the closure tab 26 to be swung to open position on its hinge 21 as shown in Fig. 5.

Movement or feeding of the articles in the car-4 ton towards the discharge opening may be controlled at will by the user by deilecting or flexing inwardly that portion of the box front adjacent to the slot 24. 'I'he carton wall can thus be flexed due to the inherent resiliency of this wall and it will return to its normal position 'when l pressure is released. But the slot 24 aids in thus flexing the wall and in controlling the movements of the articles.

In order to locate the place on the front wall of the carton that is most effective on which to exert pressure to iiex the carton wall inwardly,

it is frequently desirable to mark this place or location by an identifying spot or mark 29 as shown in Fig. 5. 'Ihis identifying spot gives instant notice to the user to exert pressure at this point to ilex the Wall inwardly so as to control the article dispensing operation. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the carton is dimensioned and the front and vback walls thereof are spaced only slightlymore than the thickness of the articles so as to retain all of the articles substantially in the same plane or substantially in a single layer within the carton, but the structure is subject to variation in this respect. The arlticles A to be dispensed in the present embodiment are shown as candy-coated particles of chewing gum or similar confection and the dispensing opening 25 is sized and proportioned so that only one of these articles can pass at one time through the opening.

When it is desired to dispense one or more of the articles from the completely filled and closed carton, thel outside closing and dispensing controlling iiap 22 is withdrawn from its retained position in the slot 24' and swung back to its open position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thus uncovering the dispensing opening 26 which at that time is closed by the closure tab 26 held in its original position by means of the integral ties 26. The ties 28 are then broken by pressure of the thumb then swung back to open position, .as shown in Fig. 5. The user then presses upon the pressure location spot 29, thus defiecting the carton wall inwardly as shown at 30 in Fig. 7. This flexing of the wall exerts pressure upon the articles positioned adjacent to the two inner sides of the dispensing opening 26. The flexing of the walls and the pressure upon the articles is facilitated by virtue of the transverse slot 24. By this means the deflected part of the wall is: conned and located more effectively toward the dispensing opening. Thus, a holding and retaining or gripping eiIect is exerted by the deflected wall upon the articles adjacent to the dispensing opening and movement thereof is prevented, butthe article A aligned with the dispensing opening is left free to pass through the opening;- When in this condition, the carton is tilted or partially inverted and may be shaken or logged slightly so that the article aligned with the opening is dispensed or expelled into the hand of the user or elsewhere. The remaining articles are retained from movements as long as the pressure on the wall is exerted. When it is desired to remove another article, the carton is positioned with its dispensing opening upwardly and the pressure on the 4spot 26 released, whereupon the carton wall due to its resiliency,4 returns to its normal position, whereupon a slight jogging or shaking and tilting of the carton toward the dispensing opening will cause another one of the articles to move into aligned position with the dispensing l opening and the article is then dispensed through the opening in the manner above described. When the articles are moving into dispensing position in the positioning corner of the carton, it will be seen that they may be guided either by the end wall or flap 20 or by the side wall adjacent to the dispensing opening 25, dependent upon the direction of the tilting vor shaking of the carton. In this way dispensing of the articles may be very easily controlled until the entire contents have been dispensed. As shown in the drawing the inner surface of the front and back carton walls are smooth and unobstructed. permitting the articles in the receiving compartment to move freely from remote positions toward the dispensing opening 2lat the positioning corner. When it is desired to close the carton after a dispensing operation, the nap 26 may be swung into closing position overthe opening viilled at either end by proper adjustment of the closing flaps, though generally one end only serves for filling purposes. Thus, specifically considered, the box has one lling opening in the top and a separate discharge outlet in' one face of` the box. There is no escape for the articles except by way of the outlet. Furthermore, the compact assembly makes it easy for pocket use or other carrying means. Although the walls I5,

-'2|l have herein been referred to as end walls, it

will be understood that all of the walls extending between, the front and back walls including the walls i5, l20 may be termed side walls since it is v carton having a illling obvious that the shape or proportions of the carton may bel varied.

Since certain changes may be made in the article herein described and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from Athe scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed:

l. .A carton f or a multiplicity oi articles, said opening and having an article-receiving compartment vwith a iront and back positioned respectively at opposite sides of the articles within said compartment and normally maintaining said articles substantially in. a single layer, said front being of resilient sheet material with a transverse slot forming an area susceptible of inward yielding exing by external pressure so as to cause said inwardly iiexed iront to urge certain of said articles in said compartrnent against said back thusv to hold them from moving into dispensing position While another article is being dispensed, said inwardly flexing area having a discharge outlet of a size to dispense the article, said transverse slot being positioned intermediate the bounds of said carton front so as to locate said iiexingarea to parts of said front having said outlet, a tab connected to said carton for closing said outlet, means to hold the tab temporarily in closed position, andv a cover arranged to be superposed on said tab and to enter said slot to be interlocked therewith.

2. in a carton, in combination, carton walls of sheet material cooperating to form a compartment for receiving a multiplicity of articles, two of said walls being side wallsA angularly disposed to each other to form a positioning corner for the reception and positioning of an article in dispensing position, two others of said carton walls forming front and back Walls respectively at opposite sides of said article-receiving compartment, said front Wall forming a front of the carton and having a dispensing opening of such a size as to dispense only a single article at a time and positioned substantially at said positioning corner so that an article positioned at said corner in the receiving compartment can pass out wardly through said dispensing opening, each oi said angularly disposed side walls serving as a guide to guide the articles in their movements to said positioning corner and being substantially the same Width as a dimension of the articles so as to space said iront and back walls apart to lie closely adjacent to opposite sides of individual articles in said compartment so as to maintain them normally substantially in a single layer, said angularly disposed side walls extending to points to lie substantially along adjacent sides of said dispensing opening at said positioning corner so as to position the articles at said dispensing opening, the inner surface of said back wall being substantially smooth to permit the articles toA move freely toward said dispensing opening, said front wall at an area thereof adjacent to said dispensing opening being resilient and deilectable inwardly by pressure exerted from without so as to restrict the space between said frontand back walls and thereby prevent movement of said articles toward said dispensing opening while an article aligned therewith is being dispensed, said area ci the front wall being retracted by resiliency thereof when to each other to form a positioning corner for article positioned at the reception and positioning of an article in dispensing position, another of said sheet walls forming a front of the carton and having a dispensing opening of such a size as to dispense only a single article at a time and positioned substantially at said positioning corner so that an said corner in the receiving compartment can pass outwardly through said dispensing opening, each of said angularly disposed side walls serving as a guide to guide the articles in their movements to said positioning corner and being substantially the same width as a dimension of the articles so as to space said iront and an opposing wall apart to lie closely adjacent to said articles in said compartmentl to maintain the latter substantially in a single layer, said angularly disposed side walls extending to points to lie substantially along adjacent sides of said dispensing opening at said positioning corner so as to position the articles at said dispensing opening, the inner surface of said opposing wall being substantially smooth to permit the articles to move freely toward said dispensing opening, said iront wall at an area thereof adjacent to said dispensing opening being resilient and deflectable inwardly by pressure exerted from without so as to cause said inwardly deilected front wall to urge certain of said articles in said compartment against said opposing wall thus to grip and hold them against movement toward said dispensing opening while an article aligned therewith is being dispensed, said area of the front Wall being retracted by resiliency thereof when the pressure thereon is released whereby an article can move and be guided along either of said angularly disposed walls into dispensing position in said positioning corner, said front wall having a slot intermediate the bounds thereof and defining one side oi said deectable area whereby inward deflection thereof is effectively located adjacent to said dispensing opening, and a, closure flap for said dispensing opening swingably attached to the carton.

4. In a carton, in combination, carton Walls of sheet material cooperating to forni a compartment for receiving a multiplicity of articles, two of said Walls being side walls angularly disposed to each other to form a positioning corner ior the reception and positioning of an article in dispensing position, another of said sheet Walls forming a front of the carton and having a dispensing opening positioned substantially at said positioning corner so that an article positioned at said corner in the receiving compartment can pass outwardly through said dispensing opening, each of said angularly disposed side walls serving as a guide to guide thearticles in their movements to said positioning corner, said front wall at an area thereof adjacent to said dispensing opening being resilient and deflectable inwardly by pressure lexerted from without so as to restrict movement of said articles toward said dispensing opening while an article aligned therewith is being dispensed, said area of the `iront wall being thereof when the pressure the pressure thereon is reand be guided along either of said angularly dis' to the carton for closing said dispensing opening Y and having a readily breakable tie integral with said front wall to hold the tab temporarily in closed position, and a closure flap for said dispenslng opening extending from a carton wall and arranged to be superposed on said swingable tab and to enter said slot in the front wall to be interlocked therewith.

5. In a carton, in combination, carton walls cooperating to form an article receivingcom partment and including front. back, and side walls integral with each other and of sufficiently strong resilient sheet material to maintain the carton normally in extended position to receive articles for free movement therein, said front Wall having a dispensing opening sized to limit article dispensing at one time to a 'predetermined quantity, two of said side walls and said back wall extending adjacent to each other to form an article positioning corner substantially at a carton corner adjacent to said dispensing opening, certain of said side walls being angularly disposed to and extending between said front and back walls and being of a width approximating a dimension of the articles therebyto maintain said front and back walls normally spaced aparta distance slightly greater than said article dimension to maintain said articles substantially in a .single layer and to provide for free movements 8 thereof toward said wall at an area, thereof adjacent to said dispensing opening being resilient and deiiectable inwax-diy by pressure exerted from without to restrict the space between said front and back walls and thereby prevent movements of said articles toward said dispensingopening while an article aligned therewith is being dispensed. said resilient area of the front wall being retracted by resiliency thereof upon release of pressure thereon whereby another article following a dispensing operation can be freely moved and guided in the receiving compartment into said positioning corner, a closure nap integral with a carton wall and movably mounted on thecarton to open or close said dispensing opening, and a releaseable retaining iiap movably mounted to overlie said closure nap for holding the latter in closed position.

J. WELIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the iile of this patent:

Great Britain 1936 positioning corner, said front- 

